Architecture of Jordan

Last updated
Amman city centre (Capital of Jordan) Amman 2013.jpg
Amman city centre (Capital of Jordan)

The architecture of Jordan has been subject to vast development, specifically in the final years of the twentieth century. Jordan is a semi-arid country located in the Middle East. Its location has great significance to Christians, Muslims and Jews as it is considered part of the Holy Land. [1]

Contents

The traditional architecture in Jordan can be attributed to many factors, which have played a pivotal role in shaping Jordanian culture. These factors include the different groups of people who have lived in the land, the mostly arid desert climate and the terrain, which is dominated by the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, and the Jordanian Highlands. As a result of increased urbanisation and an open approach to global architectural trends, Jordanian architecture began to neutralise the traditional forms of architecture that dominated the region. [2]

Historical background

Evidence of inhabitancy in Jordan can be dated back to the Palaeolithic period. The diversity of style of Jordanian architecture such as temples, castles and mosques can be credited to the wide-ranging cultures that have resided in the land. They include the three kingdoms; Edom, Moab and Ammon, as well as the Roman Empire, Nabataea Kingdom and the Ottoman Empire. [3] As there were no qualified Jordanian architects in this time period, the buildings were constructed by local builders or Arabs from neighbouring countries such as Syria and Palestine. [4]

Architecture of Petra

The architecture of Petra is the most recognisable from Jordan due to its popularity among tourists. Petra was a city that was at the centre of trade between the Middle East and the Roman Empire. [5] It was a city of ingenuity and wealth. The original settlements in Petra were constructed of rough stones and clay. The designs were simple and were likely used for travellers to store items. [6] Once the population in Petra began to grow, the infrastructure such as tombs and monuments incorporated the designs of their trading partners. Their architectural style was Nabataean, incorporating the influences of Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman civilisations. [7] The rock-cut facades are the most iconic monuments in Petra. [8]

Workers used four main stone working tools when constructing the monuments. A pick-axe, a pointed chisel to smooth over rough cuts, a toothed chisel to create the parallel lines and a flat chisel for smoothing and dressing the cut stone. [7] Plaster was often used when mistakes were made on the rock face to glue new pieces of rock. The mason would cut the mistake from the monument and replace it.

The Treasury

The Treasury or Al-Khazneh Al-Khazneh, Petra, Jordan.jpg
The Treasury or Al-Khazneh

The Treasury or Al-Khazneh is a monument carved out of the sandstone rock face in Petra. It was carved during the reign of the Nabataean King Aretas IV Philopatris at the start of the 1st century AD. It stands at 80 feet wide and 127 feet tall. [9]

Using only iron chisels and hammers, it was constructed from top down. On the upper level, the rock face is decorated with Amazons and Victories, in the centre a female figure stands on the tholos (a circular building). [8] Ornate Corinthian columns support the various structures. The entrance is guarded by the statues of the twins Castor and Pollux, figures in Greek and Roman mythology. These sculptures link the decoration to Hellenistic themes. [8] Over time, these intricate details have eroded. The entrance leads to three separate chambers. Whilst the exterior of the building is intricate, the interior is reasonably plain without any ornate designs.

The Monastery

The Monastery The Monastery, Petra, Jordan8.jpg
The Monastery

An example of one of the tombs located in Petra is the Monastery or Ad Deir. It is believed that this tomb was completed in the mid-first century as a dedication to King Obodas III. [7] The building stands at 50m high and 45m tall. [9] It’s simple Doric friezes made up of alternating circular metopes and triglyphs.

The columns standing on the outside of the monument are all in Nabataean style. The outside of the building contains several enormous niches which once but no longer hold statues. [8] This tomb is an example of the evolution of Nabataean architectural forms. As it lacks the intricate carvings and detail of other monuments such as the Treasury and stands as an example of how the evolution of Nabataean forms has transformed from the elaborate to the simple. [7]

Vernacular architecture in Jordan

Vernacular architecture is an architectural style that is characterised by residence on needs, construction materials available and traditions specific to its particular locality. [10] The vernacular architecture within Jordan was used by semi and wholly nomadic cultures in response to environmental, climatic and economic features of the Jordanian landscape.

The desert house

The traditional house of the population who lived in the desert known as the Bedouin people was a tent. The tents come in variable sizes and depending on the size of the family, were divided into several rooms. The Bedouin people primarily raised livestock and focused on agricultural activities. The tent rooms, whilst they may have a variety of uses such as housing livestock, didn’t have a fixed use. They were made from easily accessible materials, the exterior was animal-fibre cloth which was supported by wooden poles. [11]

The purpose of the tent was to protect the inhabitants from harsh weather conditions such as torrential rainfall and extremely hot temperatures. When it was no longer necessary to protect the interior from sand storms, one of the longer sides of the tent could be opened to provide a natural method of ventilation. [12]

Villages of the Transjordan Highlands

Before Jordan was established as an independent state in 1946, its population consisted mainly of semi-nomads who settled in villages. [13] In the early 19th century, the Ottoman Empire promoted agriculture to compensate for a shortage of agricultural production in the Balkans. When they initiated the Ottoman Land Code, [14] it resulted in a gradual stratification within the village community into two groups, landowners (Mellakin) and share-croppers (Fellahin).

Mellakin families mainly lived on the high ground in courtyard-style houses. They had vaulted roof systems and elaborate detailing. [14] Fellahin families resided in small scattered housing in the lower parts of the village. These houses were typically a single room approximately 400 cm x 600 cm. The chimney was a small hole in the ceiling. The walls consisted of three layers, the outer layers made of dry-stone line and the filler layer which consisted of compacted earth mixed with smaller stones. [15] The interior was divided by an arch-wall often built with dry stone. The thickness could vary from 50 to 100 cm. [15] The area used as a living area during the day time was transformed into a bedroom at night. Inhabitants used a rolling-stone to compact dirt in order to elevate the room’s floor. Fellahin houses contained a single door, which was placed parallel to the arch-wall. [15]

The Jordan Valley house

Traditional houses of the Jordan Valley are typically modular, flat-roofed and single story. They are built with moulded mud sun dried bricks called adobe. This material is suitable as it maintains a comfortable temperature within the house when temperatures have the potential to reach 50 °C. The walls are generally 50 cm thick. Very rarely would a Jordan Valley house consist of one room, instead they are divided into 2-5 modules arranged one next to the other. The main section often has small windows and a single-entry point. Small intern doors allow the inhabitant to pass through to each room. [16]

Modern Jordanian architecture

After independence, changing social and economic conditions influenced modern Jordanian architecture. As Jordan became more open to the ideals of the global world, their architecture did so too. [17] Rather than following the traditional Vernacular styles, buildings reflected international trends. This was also a result of an increased number of qualified architects who had completed their degrees in foreign countries and were registered by the Department of Land and Surveying. Most commonly, new buildings attempted to incorporate the architectural heritage of past buildings with new international styles in an effort to find an Architectural identity within Jordan. Buildings were characterised by the evolving materials used during construction including; concrete, marble, glass, metal and roof tiles and the diversity of their functions. [2]

CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF JORDANIAN ARCHITECTURE [2]
PROJECTDATE. OF IMPLEMENTATIONHERITAGE RESOURCE
Jordan's Parliament Building1980Islamic
Ministry of Communication and Information Technology1982Nabataean
King Abdullah I Gardens1988Roman
City Hall of the Greater Amman Municipality1997Islamic/Vernacular
Urban Planning and Landscaping of Ras al-Ain1997Roman/Vernacular
Feynan Eco Lodge2005Vernacular

Notable buildings

Le Royal Hotel Amman Le Royal Hotel Amman.jpg
Le Royal Hotel Amman

Jordan's Parliament Building

Jordan’s parliament building was one of the first attempts to represent the nation’s Islamic architectural heritage as the architect referenced the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem in the project. This is also represented in the octagonal shape and repeated arches. The monumental facade and use of hollow bricks and glass meant the building was classified in a modern style. [18]

Le Royal Hotel

The Le Royal Hotel in Amman combines Arab and Islamic architecture to resemble the designs of the Tower of Babel and Helicobacter (Malwiya) located in Iraq. The building's influence is grounded in the owner's Iraqi heritage, this is evident in the combination of the creativity of design with modern construction methods. It stands at 108m, and at the time of its completion was the tallest building in Jordan. [19]

Feynan Eco Lodge

The Feynan Eco Lodge 32 Dana Feynan Trail - The Feynan Lodge - panoramio.jpg
The Feynan Eco Lodge

Design by Architect Ammar Khammash [20] and located in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, the Feynan Eco Lodge was one of Jordan’s first steps toward ecotourism. It is influenced by desert architecture in arid landscapes and integrates conservation and socio-economic development. The inclusion of domes, vaults and mud skin associates it with local and traditional buildings in the region. [21] It is an example of using hybrid solutions by combining traditional materials and structure with contemporary building requirements and environmental design techniques. [22]

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Jordan is home to a total of five UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Specifically, four cultural sites and one mixed site. [23] All of the sites give an insight into the different cultures who have lived in Jordan and their impact on the country.

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN JORDAN [24]
SITEYEAR OF INSCRIPTIONTYPE
Petra1985Cultural
Quseir Amra1985Cultural
Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a)2004Cultural
Wadi Rum Protected Area2011Mixed
Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas) - Baptism Site of Jesus Christ2015Cultural

Petra

The remains of the Nabataean civilisation in Petra stands as a prime example of ancient Eastern traditions meeting Hellenistic architecture. [23]

Quseir Amra

Quseir Amra was built during the 8th century. It is a desert castle which is part of a larger castle complex, however, much of what remains of the other castles is ruins. [25] The frescoes and murals on the ceiling of the castle which depict the life of earlier settlers in the region is what gives it such cultural significance. The castle served as a military base after its destruction. [24] Its reasoning for becoming a world heritage site was its demonstration of the Umayyad civilisation. [23]

Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a)

Um er-Rasas was built in the 5th century and was utilised by the Roman military as a base due to its accessibility as a trading route in the Jordanian Desert. [24] It is considered culturally important due to its biblical connections, having been mentioned in the Book of Jeremiah. Its architecture displays facets of the Christian and Islamic communities who occupied the area after the Romans, as well as having preserved ruins from the Byzantine period such as churches and mosaic floors. [25]

Wadi Rum Protected Area

Wadi Rum is located next to Petra in the far south of Jordan. Massive rock formations and red sand dunes dominate the landscape. [26] It has been the home of many cultures over 12,000 years. [23] This is evident through the rock carvings and markings such as ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions found on temples and rock formations. [23] Many Bedouin tribes have resided in Wadi Rum. Out of all of Jordan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it is the only one categorised as mixed. [25]

Bethany Beyond Jordan (Al-Maghtas)

Bethany Beyond Jordan is located along the east bank of the Jordan River. [25] It is believed to be the original location where John the Baptist baptised Jesus. The two areas of the site which give it such archeological significance are the remains of churches and baptism ponds and the remnants of the Jabal Mar-Elias which was a monastery also known as Elijah's Hill. [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petra</span> Ancient rock-cut historical city in Jordan

Petra, originally known to its inhabitants as Raqmu or Raqēmō, is a historic and archaeological city in southern Jordan. Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system, Petra is also called the "Rose City" because of the colour of the sandstone from which it is carved; it was famously called "a rose-red city half as old as time" in a poem of 1845 by John Burgon. It is adjacent to the mountain of Jabal Al-Madbah, in a basin surrounded by mountains forming the eastern flank of the Arabah valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Access to the city is through a famously picturesque 1.2-kilometre-long gorge called the Siq, which leads directly to the Khazneh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">As-Salt</span> City in Balqa Governorate, Jordan

As-Salt, also known as Salt, is an ancient trading city and administrative centre in west-central Jordan. It is on the old main highway leading from Amman to Jerusalem. Situated in the Balqa highland, about 790–1,100 metres above sea level, the city is built in the crook of three hills, close to the Jordan Valley. One of the three hills, Jabal al-Qal'a, is the site of a 13th-century ruined fortress. It is the capital of Balqa Governorate of Jordan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wadi Rum</span> Valley in southern Jordan

Wadi Rum, known also as the Valley of the Moon, is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan, near the border with Saudi Arabia and about 60 km (37 mi) to the east of the city of Aqaba. With an area of 720 km2 (280 sq mi) it is the largest wadi in Jordan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Jordan</span> Pattern of human activity and symbolism associated with Jordan and its people

The culture of Jordan is based on Arabic and Islamic elements. Jordan stands at the intersection of the three continents of the ancient world, lending it geographic and population diversity. Notable aspects of the culture include the traditional music and clothing of Jordan and interest in sports. These include football and basketball as well as other sports such as equestrianism, fencing, karate, swimming, and table tennis

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qasr Kharana</span> Castle in Amman Governorate, Jordan

Qasr Harrana, sometimes Qasr al-Kharana, Harana, Qasr al-Harrana, Qasr al-Haranah, Haraneh, Khauranee, or Hraneh, is one of the best-known of the desert castles located in present-day eastern Jordan, about 60 kilometres (37 mi) east of Amman and relatively close to the border with Saudi Arabia. It is uncertain when the palace was constructed, but it likely originates from the Umayyad Dynasty. An inscription on an upper wall dates the building to before 710 CE. A Greek or Byzantine house may have existed on the site. The purpose of the building is a subject of debate among scholars. Theories as to the qasr's purpose include a Crusader's castle, a military stronghold, agricultural outpost, and resting place for caravan travelers. The current scholarly consensus is that the building was used as for meeting between local Bedouin leaders.

The Royal Society for The Conservation of Nature (RSCN) is an independent voluntary organization that is devoted to the conservation of Jordan's natural resources; it was established in 1966 with the late King Hussein as Honorary President.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Khazneh</span> Ancient temple in Petra, Jordan

Al-Khazneh, akaKhazneh el-Far'oun, is one of the most elaborate rock-cut tombs in Petra, a city of the Nabatean Kingdom inhabited by the Arabs in ancient times. As with most of the other buildings in this ancient town, including the Monastery, this structure was carved out of a sandstone rock face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siq</span> Main entrance to city of Petra

The Siq is the main entrance to the ancient Nabatean city of Petra in southern Jordan. Also known as Siqit, it is a dim, narrow gorge and winds its way approximately 1.2 kilometres and ends at Petra's most elaborate ruin, Al Khazneh. A wide valley outside leading to the Siq is known as the Bab as-Sīq.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Jordan</span>

Jordan is a sovereign Arab state in the Middle East. The capital, Amman, is Jordan's most populous city as well as the country's economic, political and cultural centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hegra (Mada'in Salih)</span> Historical site in northwest Saudi Arabia

Hegra, known to Muslims as Al-Hijr, also known as Mada’in Salih, is an archaeological site located in the area of Al-'Ula within Medina Province in the Hejaz region, Saudi Arabia. A majority of the remains date from the Nabataean Kingdom. The site constitutes the kingdom's southernmost and second largest city after Petra, its capital city. Traces of Lihyanite and Roman occupation before and after the Nabatean rule, respectively, can also be found.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordanian art</span> History of the arts in the Kingdom of Jordan

Free Palestine

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zamani Project</span> South African research group

The Zamani Project is part of the African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes Database. Zamani is a research group at the University of Cape Town, which acquires, models, presents and manages spatial and other data from cultural heritage sites. The present focus of the Zamani project is Africa, with the principal objective of developing “The African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes Database”. Zamani comes from the Swahili phrase “Hapo zamani za kale” which means “Once upon a time”, and can be used to mean 'the past'. The word is derived from Arabic root for temporal vocabulary, ‘Zaman,’ and appears in several languages around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ad Deir</span> Building carved out of rock in Petra, Jordan

Ad Deir, also spelled ad-Dayr and el-Deir, is a monumental building carved out of rock in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra. The Deir was probably carved in the mid-first century AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nabataean art</span>

Nabataean art is the art of the Nabataeans of North Arabia. They are known for finely-potted painted ceramics, which became dispersed among Greco-Roman world, as well as contributions to sculpture and Nabataean architecture. Nabataean art is most well known for the archaeological sites in Petra, specifically monuments such as Al Khazneh and Ad Deir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nabataean architecture</span> Ancient Near East construction style

Nabatean architecture refers to the building traditions of the Nabateans, an ancient Arab people who inhabited northern Arabia and the southern Levant. Their settlements—most prominently the assumed capital city of Raqmu —gave the name Nabatene to the Arabian borderland that stretched from the Euphrates to the Red Sea. Their architectural style is notable for its temples and tombs, most famously the ones found in Petra. The style appears to be a mix of Mesopotamian, Phoenician and Hellenistic influences modified to suit the Arab architectural taste. Petra, the capital of the kingdom of Nabatea, is as famous now as it was in the antiquity for its remarkable rock-cut tombs and temples. Most architectural Nabatean remains, dating from the 1st century BC to the 2nd century AD, are highly visible and well-preserved, with over 500 monuments in Petra, in modern-day Jordan, and 110 well preserved tombs set in the desert landscape of Hegra, now in modern-day Saudi Arabia. Much of the surviving architecture was carved out of rock cliffs, hence the columns do not actually support anything but are used for purely ornamental purposes. In addition to the most famous sites in Petra, there are also Nabatean complexes at Obodas (Avdat) and residential complexes at Mampsis (Kurnub) and a religious site of et-Tannur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Petra</span> Archaeological site in Jordan

Little Petra, also known as Siq al-Barid, is an archaeological site located north of Petra and the town of Wadi Musa in the Ma'an Governorate of Jordan. Like Petra, it is a Nabataean site, with buildings carved into the walls of the sandstone canyons. As its name suggests, it is much smaller, consisting of three wider open areas connected by a 450-metre (1,480 ft) canyon. It is part of the Petra Archeological Park, though accessed separately, and included in Petra's inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is often visited by tourists in conjunction with Petra itself, since it is free and usually less crowded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomb of the Roman Soldier</span> Tomb in Petra

The Tomb of the Roman Soldier, also called the Tomb of the Soldier, is one of the best-preserved tombs in the ancient city of Petra, in what is now Jordan. Although its façade is its most recognizable feature — with three carved figures inset between columns — the tomb complex consists of several different architectural elements with varying degrees of preservation. In addition to the tomb façade, there is an associated courtyard, the remains of several two-story buildings, rock-cut rooms, a triclinium, and several large cisterns. The main building phase of the tomb complex took place during the third quarter of the 1st century AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palace Tomb</span> Tomb in Jordan

The Palace Tomb is a Nabataean tomb in the Petra Archaeological Park. It is situated among the Royal Tombs, a line of prominent monumental facades on the east cliffs flanking the valley in which the city lies. At 49 meters wide and 46 meters tall, its rock-hewn façade is one of the largest in Petra. The tomb's name is derived from its supposed resemblance to a Roman palace design popularized by Nero's Golden House, as well as its wide and richly decorated structure... The descriptive name is based on its appearance today, rather than historical evidence for its use by royalty or occupation as a palace. The title “Palace Tomb” is recorded in the earliest catalog of tombs in Petra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammar Khammash</span> Jordanian architect and artist

Ammar Khammash is a Jordanian architect, designer and artist. His work is based on the integration of building designs with nature and the surrounding environment. His projects helped revive Pella and Jordan Valley by creating two rest stops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Petra Museum</span> Cultural museum in Petra, Jordan

The Old Petra Museum is one of the archaeological museums in the city of Petra Jordan. It is located inside the natural rock within one of the Nabataean caves in Petra.

References

  1. ↑ "Jordan country profile". 2018-06-05. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  2. 1 2 3 Rjoub, Abdelmajeed (2016). The Relationship between Heritage Resources and Contemporary Architecture of Jordan. Jordan: Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, al-Albayt University, al-Mafraq, Jordan.
  3. ↑ al-Assad, Nasser Eddin (2012). "Old Testament Kingdoms of Jordan". The Hashemite Kingdom: Jordan.
  4. ↑ abu-Ghanimeh, A (2002). "Amman: pioneers architects". Abhath Al-Yarmouk Journal. 11: 125 – via Yarmouk University.
  5. ↑ Reynolds, Ian (2012). "The History and Architecture of Petra". JCCC Honors Journal. 3.
  6. ↑ Taylor, Jane (2002). Petra and the Lost Kingdom of the Nabataens. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. p. 82.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Ossorio, Francesca (2009). Petra: Splendors of the Nabataean Civilization. Vercelli: White Star.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Petra: Rock-cut façades". Khan Academy. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  9. 1 2 "The Amazing Engineering Feats of the Lost City of Petra". interestingengineering.com. 2017-04-13. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  10. ↑ "Vernacular architecture - Designing Buildings Wiki". www.designingbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  11. ↑ "Bedouin". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  12. ↑ Cataldi, G; Pizzioli, G (1985). Territory and Tents in Southern Jordan. Firenze: Istituto Geografico Militare: L'Universo.
  13. ↑ Al Haija, A.A (2012). "Alienation of Traditional Habitats and Shelters in Jordanian Villages". Open House International. 37: 83–92. doi:10.1108/OHI-01-2012-B0008.
  14. 1 2 Daher, R.F (1999). "Gentrification and the Politics of Power, Capital and Culture in an Emerging Jordanian Heritage Industry". Traditional Dwellings and Settlements Review. 10: 33–45.
  15. 1 2 3 Marino, L; Lodino, M (1999). La casa tradizionale nei villaggi di Giordania. Verona: Cierre Edizioni.
  16. ↑ Baglioni, E (2009). Tecniche costruttive in terra cruda nella Valle del Draa. Faculty of Architecture at the University of Florence.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  17. ↑ al-Bitar, B (1996). Identity and Architecture between reality and ideal: the case of contemporary architecture in Jordan. Jordan: Jordan University.
  18. ↑ "Jordan - A Wiki on National Parliament Buildings Worldwide". www.places-of-power.org. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  19. ↑ "Jordan | Statistics | EMPORIS". www.emporis.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  20. ↑ "Feynan Eco-Lodge". www.khammash.com. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  21. ↑ "Feynan Eco-Lodge". www.khammash.com. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  22. ↑ "The Long Run | Feynan Ecolodge" . Retrieved 2019-05-17.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 "World Heritage Locations in Jordan and the Activities of the Amman Office in Preserving Our Common Heritage | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Jordan". WorldAtlas. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Jordan". Everything Everywhere Travel Blog. 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  26. ↑ "Wadi Rum". Travel. 2016-01-17. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.